READING, PA – GoggleWorks Center for the Arts (GoggleWorks) has announced that Sandy Solmon and Doug Messinger have pledged a $65,000 challenge gift to encourage end of the year matching donations to the nonprofit art center. “This gift is so meaningful because it will help us sustain our charitable work while at the same time encouraging new contributors to come forward with support,” said Levi Landis, President and Executive Director of GoggleWorks. “Sandy serves on the GoggleWorks board where her acumen is put to good use,” Landis added. “The additional philanthropic support from Sandy and Doug is yet another example of their community leadership.”

Landis, who joined the organization in 2016, has worked to overhaul and expand its community programs, develop partnerships, and enhance the visitor experience. Solmon and Messinger join other major donors contributing $50,000 or more to GoggleWorks this year in support of these changes including Marlin and Regina Miller, Pam and Peter Barbey through the Edwin Barbey Fund, Carole and the late Ray Neag, Irvin and Lois E. Cohen, and the Penske Corporation. Earlier this year, Dena and Victor Hammel founded an endowment fund for children’s programs. The Windgate Charitable Foundation has matched all gifts up to $100,000 for three years.

“We are lucky to have a strong network of support from our Giving Society and other annual contributors, artists, members, volunteers, and the nearly 300,000 visitors that will come through our doors this year,” said Landis. “We hope this support, along with the incredible new challenge gift by Sandy and Doug, will drive new donations for our work in the community this coming year.”